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           Jem,"hesaid,"youbettertakeMissJeanLouisehome.Mr.Jem,youhearme?"

           Jemturnedhishead."Scout,gohome.Dill,you’n’Scoutgohome."

           "Yougottamakemefirst,"Isaid,rememberingAtticus’sblesseddictum.

           Jemscowledfuriouslyatme,thensaidtoReverendSykes,"Ithinkit’sokay,Reverend,shedoesn’tunderstandit."

           Iwasmortallyoffended."Imostcertainlydo,Ic’nunderstandanythingyoucan."

           "Awhush.Shedoesn’tunderstandit,Reverend,sheain’tnineyet."

           ReverendSykes’sblackeyeswereanxious."Mr.Finchknowyouallarehere?Thisain’tfitforMissJeanLouiseoryouboyseither."

           Jemshookhishead."Hecan’tseeusthisfaraway.It’sallright,Reverend."

           IknewJemwouldwin,becauseIknewnothingcouldmakehimleavenow.DillandIweresafe,forawhile:Atticuscouldseeusfromwherehewas,ifhelooked.

           AsJudgeTaylorbangedhisgavel,Mr.Ewellwassittingsmuglyinthewitnesschair,surveyinghishandiwork.Withonephrasehehadturnedhappypicknickersintoasulky,tense,murmuringcrowd,beingslowlyhypnotizedbygaveltapslesseninginintensityuntiltheonlysoundinthecourtroomwasadimpink-pink-pink:thejudgemighthavebeenrappingthebenchwithapencil.

           Inpossessionofhiscourtoncemore,JudgeTaylorleanedbackinhischair.Helookedsuddenlyweary;hisagewasshowing,andIthoughtaboutwhatAtticushadsaid—heandMrs.Taylordidn’tkissmuch—hemusthavebeennearlyseventy.